Podcast: Roundtable Talk

Season 1 of Roundtable Talk set out to challenge everything we think we know about aging and ended up reframing what’s possible across an entire lifetime.

Across more than 20 conversations, Varsity’s aging and longevity podcast brought together gerontologists, policymakers, innovators, artists, journalists, and senior living leaders who are reshaping how we live, work, and contribute as we age. From public health and technology to purpose, creativity, and community, each guest added a vital layer to a more hopeful, human-centered narrative of longevity.

The season opened with cultural icons and truth-tellers like Garrison Keillor and Mo Rocca, who reminded us that humor, curiosity, and engagement don’t fade with age—they sharpen. Terry Farrell brought a deeply personal perspective on reinvention and authenticity, while Diane Harris and Dr. Sara Zeff Geber tackled the realities of solo aging, financial longevity, and planning for independence without fear.

Leading voices in aging science and public health—including Dr. Linda Fried, Dr. Louise Aronson, Dr. Kerry Burnight, and Dr. David Katz—challenged ageism head-on, reframed frailty and wellness, and made a compelling case for focusing on health span, not just life span. Their insights made it clear that aging well isn’t accidental—it’s systemic, behavioral, and deeply connected to how we design communities and care.

Innovation emerged as a recurring theme through conversations with Rick Robinson, Laurie Orlov, Dr. Tom Kamber, and Rob Liebreich, who explored how technology—from AI to digital literacy to cognitive health tools—can support independence, connection, and dignity when designed with older adults, not just for them.

The season also spotlighted bold models for aging with purpose and belonging. Andrew Carle and Lindsey Beagley explored university-based retirement communities and lifelong learning as antidotes to isolation. Barbara Sullivan highlighted the power of grassroots villages. Bridget Weston showed how older adults are fueling entrepreneurship through mentorship, while Brian Fried proved creativity and invention have no expiration date.

Rounding out the season, industry leaders like Larry Carlson, Scott Townsley, Marvell Adams Jr., Peter Murphy Lewis, and Dr. Robyn Stone confronted the hard truths facing senior living, caregiving, workforce sustainability, and inclusion, offering both critique and optimism for what comes next.

QUOTES

“We have been fed a steady diet of inaccurate information about growing older, and that information is that it’s all decline. And the truth is in the literature that there are many things that get better as you get older. We don’t care as much what people think about us, we appreciate our connections more, and we have greater potential for problem solving.” (Dr. Burnight)

“I’ve just been amazed by, like, who would think that a book on aging would become a New York Times bestseller? I mean, that’s where people are in recognizing these 100-year lives and recognizing that the status quo is not sufficient.” (Dr. Burnight)

“There were times where I had my head down on the keyboard crying because it was so hard because I wanted to bring in all the research, but I also wanted to make it really readable. And so I just kept thinking, simplify, simplify.” (Dr. Burnight)

“When I realized that the American Psychological Association defines joy as well-being and satisfaction, it made me realize that joy isn’t this like happy, happy, you know. It’s the opposite of toxic positivity.” (Dr. Burnight)

“What they said is that happiness is often circumstantially dependent, whereas joy can exist even in challenge because it’s an inside out phenomena. And that was an ah-ha moment for me.” (Dr. Burnight)

“I don’t know any older adults who haven’t had significant challenges. That is the nature of being a human. And we’re going to have those challenges. So it isn’t that we’re going to control for everything. That’s impossible. It’s that we’re going to find a way to have joy anyway.” (Dr. Burnight)

“What the research shows us is that genetics predicts between 13% and 25% of our aging experience. So the vast majority is up to us.” (Dr. Burnight)

“One utterly suffered, and it was such a rough road, and it was really hard to be around her. And then the other one had found this ability to be content, and we couldn’t get enough of her… we watched that it is possible to walk with grief and joy.” (Dr. Burnight)

NOTES

Dr. Kerry Burnight is a nationally recognized gerontologist, author, speaker and advocate with more than three decades of experience working with older adults and families. Her work focuses on aging, joy, well-being, elder abuse prevention and redefining longevity beyond decline.

Dr. Burnight is the author of JoySpan, a New York Times bestseller that reframes aging by emphasizing joy, adaptability and meaning alongside lifespan and healthspan. She is also a co-founder of the Elder Abuse Forensic Center and a leader in research-driven aging policy and practice.

Joy is not fleeting happiness but a deeper sense of well-being that can coexist with hardship and challenge.

Genetics play a smaller role in aging outcomes than commonly believed, with most of the aging experience shaped by behavior and mindset.

Joy and well-being can be intentionally built through daily practices, much like physical health.

People who thrive in long lives consistently invest in growth, connection, adaptability and contribution.

Aging is not solely defined by decline; many cognitive, emotional and relational strengths improve with age.

Gratitude and attention shape perception, influencing both mood and social connection.

Loneliness is best addressed through proactive effort, including initiating relationships rather than waiting to be invited.

Society, policy and senior living environments must move away from infantilizing older adults and toward dignity, choice and purpose.

QUOTES

“Energy is a great way to describe what it feels like to be on a team. You know if you’re on an energized team. You know if you’re on a team that’s not so energized.” (Kathy)

“Morale is a little bit narrow, but energy permeates all parts of the culture. Morale can float in and out and you can have a bad day, but energy is what gets things done in a culture.” (Kathy)

“Poor communication is probably one of the first ones I see because we think we might be having those conversations that are necessary, but often our people aren’t hearing it or it’s not getting to them quite the right way.” (Kathy)

“When I see little cues where things aren’t being communicated or the team doesn’t feel like there’s transparency, that’s the time to start talking about how is this team working, how are we energized.” (Kathy)

“A breakdown in civility can de-energize a team. You got a bad apple on that team who’s stirring things up, or says things that are derogatory. That can quench energy on a team.” (Kathy)

“We need to be kind. Just because you see it or could say it doesn’t mean you have to say it.” (Kathy)

“There’s definitely a trickle down effect from any leader. If someone’s burned out, worn out, stressed out, maxed out, they’re not showing up as their best version of themselves.” (Kathy)

“It doesn’t take long. I often end with a two-minute meditation where everyone just breathes deep for a couple minutes because it’s so important.” (Kathy)

“If someone has a question and the answer has not readily presented itself, they’re going to create their own information. And that’s where gossip gets into an organization.” (Kathy)

“Why would someone want to work here? Why would they want to give their energy, their time, their talents? What is the draw? What is the culture?” (Kathy)

“We’ve gotten pretty good at the story we want to tell to our prospective residents, but we don’t go quite as deep with what is that story we’re telling prospective employees.” (Kathy)

“Sympathy is showing up with a casserole, but empathy is actually filling the heart. It’s saying, what do you actually need from me right now that would help you?” (Kathy)

NOTES

Kathy Parry is a corporate energy expert who helps organizations strengthen culture, communication, trust, and engagement. Her work is deeply personal, shaped by caring for her daughter Merritt who lived with mitochondrial dysfunction, which inspired Kathy’s focus on energy, purpose, empathy, and sustainable leadership.

Kathy leads a speaking and consulting practice focused on re-energizing workplace culture, particularly in senior living and care settings. Through keynotes and longer-term engagements, she helps leadership teams reduce energy drains, improve communication systems, build trust, and create recognition practices that support retention and resident experience.

Kathy describes “energy” as a more complete measure than morale because it shows up across the whole culture, from communication to resident engagement to operational performance

She offers a senior living-focused engagement called the Platinum Power Program, a six-month deep dive into culture, energy drains, and leadership systems

A major emphasis in her work is clear, concise communication, including creating boundaries and predictable channels so rumors and confusion don’t fill the gaps

She teaches a trust framework that includes brain-based concepts like the amygdala’s continual “safe or not safe” scan and how transparency and empathy reduce fear responses

She distinguishes sympathy from empathy, emphasizing practical support and asking what someone truly needs rather than assuming

She promotes daily acknowledgement and celebration as retention tools and suggests creative recognition ideas, including using AI music tools to create personalized “mementos” for standout team members

She encourages leaders to stay curious, flexible, and optimistic about change, using examples from outside senior living to illustrate adaptability

QUOTES

“As a young guy, I was always curious how things worked. Ripping things apart from a creative, constructive way, not destructive. When there was a problem, I wanted to solve it.” (Brian)

“I turned out to be this problem-solution guy. As I got older, I started realizing that everyday life is full of things you can do differently—or things that don’t exist yet.” (Brian)

“Everybody has different reasons, but I would say that just bringing something to life is something amazing.” (Brian)

“Watching people use your idea for the same reason that you came up with it is an unbelievable feeling and experience.” (Brian)

“Anybody can be an inventor. You could be a doctor, lawyer, unemployed, senior citizen, student—at some point you’re coming up with an idea. The question is, are you going to stop and work on it?” (Brian)

“Sometimes the simplest products can do well. It’s about solving a small problem that people deal with every day.” (Brian)

“Capture that idea. You can text yourself, email yourself, tell somebody—before it’s gone.” (Brian)

“Be realistic. Work on something you can call your own. Don’t just close your eyes to what’s already out there because you want to be a gazillionaire.” (Brian)

“You can get things done on a shoestring budget. I don’t care if you’re a gazillionaire or on Social Security—anything is possible.” (Brian)

“It doesn’t take much these days. You don’t need to be in a major retail store to be successful—you can sell it online, on Amazon, or at your favorite street fair.” (Brian)

“If I can do it, you can do it too. Work on things that are going to get you the return you’re looking for, whatever that may be.” (Brian)

“Take away the emotion and think from a business perspective. Work on things that make sense and will get you the return you’re looking for.” (Brian)

NOTES

Brian Fried is an accomplished inventor, author, and CEO of Inventor Smart. With more than 15 patents and two decades of experience, he’s helped countless inventors—many of them older adults—turn creative ideas into real-world products.

Inventor Smart provides education, coaching, and community for inventors at all stages of development. Through initiatives like the National Inventor Club and the Inventor Smart Community app, Brian connects and empowers innovators to bring their ideas to market.

Brian has licensed and manufactured multiple products, appeared on QVC, and authored three books on inventing. His work fosters collaboration between inventors, startups, and entrepreneurs, creating supportive spaces for idea sharing and lifelong innovation.

Curiosity and creativity sparked Brian’s journey as an inventor—he’s always been a “problem-solution guy.”

Many older adults pursue invention later in life for fun, legacy, or mental stimulation.

Success comes from evaluating ideas realistically—being sure they’re original, useful, and worth the investment.

Simple, everyday inventions can make the biggest impact and are often the most successful.

Digital tools like AI and 3D printing are revolutionizing the invention process, making it easier and more accessible.

Brian encourages aspiring inventors to “capture ideas before they’re gone” and to research thoroughly before investing.

The Inventor Smart Community app and National Inventor Club provide invaluable peer support for inventors of all ages.

Above all, Brian’s philosophy is that anyone can be an inventor—with the right mindset, patience, and perseverance.

QUOTES

“The idea was, how do we pull together everybody who is in the Agetech ecosystem or who wants to be?” (Rick)

“(Older adults) are very tech savvy compared to, say, 20 years ago. And they demand better products, better services.” (Rick)

“We realized there really isn’t a convening place, a place for everybody to come together and frankly help each other produce better products and services for the market.” (Rick)

“In this environment, we now have well over 600 companies, and we’re charging toward a thousand.” (Rick)

“Let’s take that enthusiasm and expertise and technology and apply it toward older adults. Because frankly, there’s a lot more money there, to be blunt.” (Rick)

“We are here to make aging easier for everyone.” (Rick)

“Through the pandemic, it has driven people to everything from telehealth to just using consumer digital devices and applications like they wouldn’t necessarily have before.” (Rick)

“There’s a huge deficit of caregivers. That, I think, is an area where AI coupled with embodied devices is going to solve a lot of the issues that we’re facing today.” (Rick)

NOTES

Rick Robinson is Vice President and General Manager of the Agetech Collaborative from AARP. With a background in innovation and entrepreneurship, he leads efforts to bring startups, investors, and enterprises together to shape the future of aging.

The Agetech Collaborative from AARP is a growing ecosystem of startups, corporations, investors, and testbed organizations focused on developing technology and solutions for older adults. Launched just two and a half years ago, it now connects more than 600 organizations worldwide.

The collaborative runs an accelerator program, pitch competitions, and provides mentoring and investment opportunities for startups. It also fosters connections between entrepreneurs and large enterprises, supports product testing and co-creation with older adults, and works to ensure inclusivity in innovation. 

The ecosystem is designed to make aging easier through technology, while tackling challenges such as caregiving shortages, social isolation, and healthcare access.

The collaborative exists to connect everyone in the age tech ecosystem and help bring better products and services to market.

Today’s older adults are more tech-savvy than previous generations and expect high-quality solutions tailored to their needs.

By attracting influential investors, the collaborative is shifting entrepreneurial focus toward the large, underserved market of older adults.

Aging innovation should make the technology “disappear,” allowing the experience and value to shine through.

The pandemic accelerated technology adoption among older adults, from telehealth to consumer apps, lowering barriers of concern.

Both organic networking and guided connections through account managers fuel collaboration and even acquisitions within the ecosystem.

Inclusivity is central: startups are coached to test products with diverse groups of older adults to ensure accessibility and usability.

AI and embodied devices hold promise to address pressing challenges like the caregiver shortage within the next five years.

QUOTES

“Caregivers were fighting against a negative perception, a negative narrative, a negative reputation that started before COVID but was accentuated during COVID by bad media.” (Peter)

“These people that were great caregivers don’t get the recognition that they deserve.” (Peter)

“If you put the caregiver at the front, nobody’s going to criticize a caregiver.” (Peter)

“People think of CNAs as cleaning bathrooms and changing diapers. They don’t realize how beautiful it is in the relationship that you get to make.” (Peter)

“Stories are pretty much the only thing that can change our opinion in life. Documentaries do it better because they’re long enough to show the contradictions of humankind.” (Peter)

“They just have a mechanism where they can compartmentalize and feel fulfilled making other people feel great through their acts of service.” (Peter)

“What a badge of honor if the nursing home is so great that your resident brings in the caregivers, recruits their own family.” (Peter)

“I love being forced to learn something that corrects where I was wrong.” (Peter)

“Curiosity is not just part of my personality—it’s an attribute I should strive for and that humans should strive for.” (Peter)

“Almost everything has been because of tears. There were moments where we just held each other’s hands and sobbed for minutes while the cameras kept rolling.” (Peter)

NOTES

Peter Murphy Lewis is a documentary filmmaker, storyteller, and advocate who co-created People Worth Caring About, a podcast and video series spotlighting frontline caregivers in long-term care communities across the United States.

People Worth Caring About shares authentic, heartfelt stories of caregivers working in retirement and long-term care communities. Through podcasts and a multi-part documentary series, the project elevates unsung heroes, challenges stereotypes, and helps shift the public narrative around aging and caregiving.

Peter began his career in long-term care in 2020 and later became a CNA to better understand the field. Drawing from his background in South American television, he adapted his storytelling format to senior living, resulting in a growing series now available on smart TVs nationwide. The project has expanded beyond Nebraska to states like Ohio and New Mexico, with more seasons in the works.

Peter was motivated to create the series after seeing caregivers struggle with negative perceptions of long-term care.

His grandparents’ positive experiences in a nursing home inspired him to spotlight caregivers who rarely receive recognition.

By focusing on staff instead of owners or executives, the series avoids criticism and builds empathy through authentic caregiver stories.

Filming in hospice revealed the deep, life-affirming relationships between residents and young caregivers.

Stories like Kevin calling his nursing home “my home” challenged Peter’s own assumptions about language and dignity.

Intergenerational and family-based caregiving, from Subway recruits to residents’ grandchildren, shows the community power of senior living.

Peter believes documentaries shape narratives because they’re long enough to show the contradictions of human nature.

His hope is to continue expanding the series to more states, changing perceptions of caregiving while also inspiring young people to join the field.

QUOTES

“SCORE is a connected network that reaches across the country of experienced business mentors who volunteer their time and expertise to help anyone looking to start or grow or is struggling in a small business.” (Bridget)

“Like small businesses need to do, we need to evolve as an organization as well.” (Bridget)

“Because SCORE had already seen that virtual was a viable path to connecting with people, we were able to move to virtual mentoring and virtual education without missing a beat. We didn’t miss a day of service.” (Bridget)

“We can’t lose that human touch and that human connection. That personal touch, I believe, will always need to be there.” (Bridget)

“If you meet with a business mentor for three hours, you are five times more likely to increase your revenue.” (Bridget)

“One of the top commonalities that all of the SCORE volunteers have is that they want to help others to make sure that they can have an easier time of succeeding in their small business.” (Bridget)

“It helps them to feel not only that they’re giving back, but they’re getting something in return by connecting with these people.” (Bridget)

“Mentoring is free. You can meet with a mentor one time, you can meet with a mentor 1,000 times. It is always free.” (Bridget)

“On average, people stay at SCORE to volunteer for five plus years. If it wasn’t fulfilling, if it wasn’t engaging, you would go and find another opportunity.” (Bridget)

“It is this beautiful relationship that can develop over time. I know mentors who have been invited to their clients’ children’s weddings, to christenings, to funerals.” (Bridget)

“You don’t have to be an expert in all things, but you also don’t have to be alone. Let us help you.” (Bridget)

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Without a strong economy, we don’t have as strong of communities.” (Bridget)

NOTES

Bridget Weston is the CEO of SCORE, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit networks dedicated to supporting small business owners. With more than 16 years at the organization, she leads its mission of mentoring, education and community impact.

SCORE is a national nonprofit resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, offering free mentoring and education to entrepreneurs. With thousands of volunteer mentors across the country, SCORE empowers small business owners at every stage of growth, from idea to exit strategy.

Founded over 60 years ago by retired DuPont executives, SCORE has evolved beyond its original “Service Corps of Retired Executives” identity to welcome working professionals and leaders from diverse backgrounds. Today, 30% of SCORE’s volunteers are still actively working, ensuring clients benefit from fresh perspectives as well as seasoned expertise. In 2023 alone, SCORE helped launch more than 54,000 businesses and add 83,000 jobs to the economy.

SCORE evolved from an organization of retired executives to a diverse network of working and retired professionals volunteering their expertise.

The organization anticipated the shift toward virtual mentoring before the pandemic and now serves more than 80% of clients virtually.

While embracing technology and AI, SCORE emphasizes that human connection and personal touch remain essential to mentoring.

SCORE serves a wide range of entrepreneurs, from microbusinesses and restaurants to government contractors and encore entrepreneurs (55+).

Volunteers often stay with SCORE for five or more years because the experience is rewarding and deeply meaningful.

Mentoring is always free, allowing entrepreneurs to access guidance as often as they need.

SCORE partnerships—with SBA, AARP, universities and local organizations—expand reach and connect mentors with both younger and older entrepreneurs.

Small businesses are “the backbone of our economy,” and SCORE’s work strengthens communities across the country.

QUOTES

“This industry, the age-related technology industry, is filled with people who have struggled to care for their own parents. All of those people have a story.” (Laurie)

“Why are we still thinking about fall detection when we could actually do fall prevention?” (Laurie)

“The customer barely thinks about the problem they have right now. It’s up to the resellers and the tech companies to seek others.” (Laurie)

“Strength training is extremely important as you age. The ability to get out of a chair without holding the arms of a chair—that’s what keeps you from falling down.” (Laurie)

“AI can help people be proactive.” (Laurie)

“People want to connect to their family members, and it’s not going to work if you have the kind of cell phone that doesn’t have a screen.” (Laurie)

“Nobody wants to be in that situation again. Devices and technology training should become part of the aging experience.” (Laurie)

“The value exceeds the fear. It’s time for people to make a trade-off and seize the day.” (Laurie)

“Appreciate older people when you’re young.” (Laurie)

NOTES

Laurie Orlov is a leading authority on aging and technology, with over 15 years of experience. She founded Aging and Health Technology Watch to analyze the intersection of innovation and senior care, inspired by personal caregiving challenges with her mother and mother-in-law.

Aging and Health Technology Watch provides strategic insights into the tech market focused on aging. Offering advice, reports, and thought leadership, it helps companies develop solutions that enhance the independence and safety of older adults, advocating for integrated technology suites.

Laurie’s company arose from a gap she identified in the market during 2008-2009. The company now advises tech firms and investors, emphasizing forward-thinking solutions over crisis-driven technologies. Laurie also critiques the slow market adoption of integrated platforms for older adults’ needs.

Laurie described the path to her current role, motivated by personal experience in caregiving and a lack of existing resources.

She observed that many in the age-related technology space are driven by personal caregiving struggles.

Laurie encourages tech integration, emphasizing suites rather than standalone products for comprehensive elder care solutions.

She advocates for the inclusion of older adults in tech design processes to ensure products meet user needs effectively.

Laurie argued against age-specific technologies, instead promoting adaptable, universally designed tech solutions.

She highlighted the pandemic as a catalyst for increased tech adoption among older adults, urging further progress.

Laurie’s discussions highlighted AI’s potential in transforming proactive senior care and operational efficiencies.

Emphasizing the importance of training and awareness, Laurie advocates for overcoming barriers to tech adoption among seniors.

QUOTES

“Ageism is prejudice against our future selves.” (Bob)

“At age 75, it’s too late for me to change society’s attitudes that are going to affect my aging well. It’s not too late for you.” (Bob)

“We really now have a new stage of life which increased longevity has made possible.” (Bob)

“The largest untapped workforce in America are older adults 55 to 80.” (Bob)

“The age group with the highest incidence reported of loneliness are young people 18 to 29, far greater than those over 75.” (Bob)

“Will (our efforts) eliminate ageism? No, it won’t. But will it change some attitudes? Yes.” (Bob)

“We have to think in a longevity economy, how do we turn increased longevity into a bonus for the individuals and for our society at large?” (Bob)

“Necessity and opportunity both give me hope.” (Bob)

NOTES

Bob Kramer is a nationally recognized expert in aging and senior living, co-founder of the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC), and founder of Nexus Insights. He is renowned for his innovative approaches to transforming the perception and care of aging populations.

Nexus Insights is a think tank dedicated to advancing bold ideas and disruptive models that support aging well. The organization focuses on integrating diverse perspectives to address the challenges and opportunities associated with increased longevity and aging services.

Bob Kramer has been a pivotal figure in reshaping the senior housing landscape, advocating for a shift from an ageist narrative to one that sees aging as a period of contribution and value. His work has greatly influenced investment in senior housing and care, and he remains a key thought leader in the field through his continued advocacy for innovative, person-centered aging services.

Bob emphasizes the need to challenge the negative and fearful perceptions of aging, highlighting that ageism is essentially prejudice against our future selves.

He encourages young people to shift their views on aging by illustrating that statistically, many will live to be 100, making it crucial to combat ageist stereotypes early.

Bob discusses the untapped potential of older adults as a vital workforce segment, especially in addressing challenges like healthcare where their involvement could be transformative.

He notes that loneliness is more prevalent among younger age groups and suggests intergenerational programs as an effective solution to this issue.

Bob critiques terms like “silver tsunami” for their negative implications, arguing instead for a perspective that sees increased longevity as a societal bonus rather than a curse.

Technology and data are seen as crucial for future aging services, enabling more efficient and preventative healthcare where actionable data drives better quality of life.

He stresses the importance of redefining senior living environments to focus on life engagement and growth rather than decline and dependency.

Nexus Insights was founded to foster innovation in aging services, bringing together diverse viewpoints to drive effective and compassionate transformations in how society approaches longevity and elder care.

QUOTES

“The village model was created to serve that missing middle, the middle class.” (Barbara)

“Most of the villages are volunteer first, so it incorporates neighbor helping neighbor.” (Barbara)

“Villages connect the dots. They start in a community. It’s very organically grown from the community.” (Barbara)

“At the end of the day, we all want purpose.” (Barbara)

“People are living in their own homes. More importantly, people are living in their community.” (Barbara)

“We are not silos anymore. We cannot just be in this community and not serve everyone.” (Barbara)

“Money should not be an option. We want to make sure we reach all the underserved and underreached populations within a community.” (Barbara)

NOTES

Barbara Sullivan is the National Director of the Village to Village Network and a longtime advocate for aging in place. With a background in nonprofit leadership, long-term care administration, and gerontology, she has been involved in the village movement since 2007.

The Village to Village Network supports the creation and sustainability of grassroots, volunteer-driven communities—or “villages”—that empower older adults to remain in their homes while staying engaged, connected and supported by neighbors.

Barbara first became involved in the village movement after assisted living residents in Northern Virginia asked her to help start one. 

Her early career influence came from her father, a Congressman and elder law attorney, which helped shape her understanding of aging policy.  

The village model serves the “missing middle”—those who are too wealthy to qualify for public assistance but not wealthy enough for private senior living options.

Villages rely heavily on volunteers and grassroots support to help older adults stay independent, engaged and connected.

A major strength of the model is its flexibility—villages can range from 14 square blocks to 14 square miles and adapt to their communities’ needs.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of villages in combating social isolation and ensuring continuity of care.

Programs like GoGo Grandparent and partnerships with organizations like Goodwin Living help expand access to transportation and cognitive wellness.

Most villages charge modest or no dues and offer scholarships or “pay what you can” memberships to remain inclusive.

Villages build strategic partnerships with healthcare systems, faith communities, and public agencies to extend their reach and impact.

Barbara hopes to see 500 more villages created in the next 10 years and emphasizes the importance of community-based solutions in meeting the demands of an aging population.